TSN's Bob McKenzie broke the news on Twitter that the Nashville Predators have traded Ryan Parent & Jonas Andersson to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for veteran defenseman Shane O'Brien and prospect Dan Gendur.
Analysis to follow after the jump as we get the details...
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What Nashville Gets
A physical presence is what you can expect from Shane O'Brien, along with an unfortunately high number of penalties, however. He led the league in Elbowing and Interference penalties last season, and is set to make $1.6 million this season per NHLNumbers.com.
For a team which did such a good job staying out of the penalty box last season, I'll be honest, I don't see what value O'Brien brings to the Nashville defense. He had already cleared waivers earlier this week.
Dan Gendur
Gendur was a 7th-round pick by Vancouver in the 2006 Draft, a right winger who was part of the first round of cuts from the Canucks' training camp. His profile at Hockey's Future doesn't show much to get excited about (thanks to @quietone726 on Twitter for passing that along).
What Nashville Sent Away
Parent had impressed during training camp and preseason games, and appeared to make a good fit alongside Cody Franson. Apparently the Predators wanted a little more beef on the blueline, however.
Jonas Andersson
After returning to North America this fall, Andersson didn't do much to separate himself from the pack and earn an NHL job. With a one-way contract paying him $675,000, he would have made for an expensive Milwaukee Admiral.
Initial Analysis
Given that O'Brien had already cleared waivers without Nashville biting, the only two options remaining to rationalize this deal are (1) getting Gendur included, which wouldn't appear to be a major priority, or (2) getting rid of Jonas Andersson's one-way contract. Combined with Parent, these two would have made $1.525 million this season even with Andersson (as was likely) in the minors.
Instead, the two are swapped by an established NHL player in O'Brien at $1.6 million, although it's an open question as to whether he'll be an asset on the Nashville blueline. I have serious doubts about this.
Vancouver is motivated to get under the salary cap, hence their desire to get rid of O'Brien and immediately put Parent on waivers after acquiring him (they are also sending Andersson to Manitoba), as they can afford to hide salary at the AHL level. But in exchange, couldn't the Predators have gotten something of greater value, such as a mid-round draft pick?
UPDATE: Upon further detailed review, O'Brien may prove to be a worthwhile asset after all.
An excerpt from the Preds' press release follows:
Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has acquired defenseman Shane O'Brien and forward Dan Gendur from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for defenseman Ryan Parent and forward Jonas Andersson.
O'Brien, 27 (8/9/83), appeared in 65 regular-season games for the Canucks a season ago, posting eight points (2g-6a) and 79 penalty minutes, and in all 12 of Vancouver's playoff games registering three points (1g-2a) and 25 penalty minutes. In 299 career NHL contests with Vancouver, Anaheim and Tampa Bay since the 2006-07 campaign, the 6-3, 224-pound blueliner has 55 points (8g-47a) and 605 penalty minutes. The Port Hope, Ont., native was originally drafted 250th overall (eighth round) by the Ducks in the 2003 Entry Draft held at Bridgestone Arena.
Gendur, 23 (5/21/87), split the 2009-10 season between Victoria and Johnstown of the ECHL, combining for 12 points (2g-10a) in 29 games. As a rookie pro in 2008-09, the 5-11, 190-pound winger posted one goal in 10 games with Manitoba (AHL), and 38 points (9g-29a) in 52 contests with Victoria. A native of Vancouver, B.C., Gendur was selected 206th overall (seventh round) by the Canucks in the 2007 Entry Draft.
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